To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or other web browser. IE8 is no longer supported. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Click on the links to get to the download page.

Archives

Supporting Your Peers (Guest Post)

This guest post comes from Tom Mabon a.k.a @behind-the-sofa, a long-time member of this site and also one of our Community Moderators.

==========

I was recently fortunate enough to carry out some Peer Support training through Connect Support Recovery, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Auckland helping those with addiction and mental health issues. They offer Peer Support training for people with their own lived experience of either mental health, addictions or both.. so that we may go on to help others into recovery.

On a Monday morning last November I showed up to their offices in Manukau where the training was taking place. I arrived early having already driven past the place the day before to make sure I knew where it was and to suss it out – did I mention I have anxiety? To be honest I didn’t like the look of it. It was upstairs in a block of shops above a bridal store. Didn’t look like an easy place to escape from – and escape plans are a must for alcoholic/anxiety sufferers. I went for a little walk around the block to gather my thoughts. “Why am I here? What’s led me here? Am I doing the right thing? Who the fuck am I?” These thoughts and many more bubbled to the surface as I contemplated whether or not to go in. “I can’t be a peer support worker, I can barely look after myself. Seriously, what am I doing here? Run. Run. Run.”

As what usually happens to me in new situations my fight/flight/freeze system kicks in and fires all sorts of conflicting messages at me. Over time I’ve sort of learned to deal with it and know that it’s all noisy nonsense and try to mentally whistle my way through it. And I did this time. I got to the door of the steps, had a millisecond pause and fantasized about running away but then drew breath and went in.

Some people were already sat down in the classroom – an eclectic bunch: women, men, younger and older, different ethnicities, plenty of tatts and faces of experience. I raised my eyebrows and tried to smile at a couple of people. We all sat for a few awkward moments before the course facilitators came in and instantly they put everyone at ease. Warmly welcoming everyone as though we were all VIP’s on a special envoy and acknowledging possible anxiety in the room and drawing up a list of policies which we decided upon to make us all feel comfortable – the one to say we could leave the room at any time we needed to was particularly welcomed by me.

From that moment on the course was incredible and rewarding. A bunch of disparate people all come together with the common bond of trauma and recovery. Where had this shit been all my life? I always thought you had to squash feelings and hide shame; wear the mask of ‘I’m okayness’. What a crock of shit we’ve been sold. Why do we always have to pretend we’re fine when we’re not? I’ve probably led a very insular existence but this course really gave me a glimpse into the power of connection and community (connection is the opposite of addiction don’t you know).

Below is a summary of some of the key points I learnt about what being a Peer Support Worker is all about.

Peer support workers (PSWs) work with people with alcohol or drug problems and/or mental health issues (it’s recognised now that there is a huge overlap between mental health and addiction issues and that there is a need for services to become more closely integrated). The Peer Support workforce is growing rapidly both here in New Zealand and overseas, and the high value these workers provide to the sector is becoming increasingly realised.

Peer support relationships are all about mutuality, PSWs walk alongside their peers in their journeys of recovery. They do not come from a position of dominance or authority.

PSW’s are not rescuers, helpers or advisers. The only person they are an expert on is themselves. If you rescue someone you are taking away from them their ability to be strong in that moment and to grow. Helping is driven by the ego and although it may make you feel better it will not help your peer in the long run.

So what PSWs do is to actively listen to their peers; this includes observing all the non-verbal communication – which many experts believe constitutes the largest part of what is being expressed – then reflect back to them what they’ve communicated and how it appears to be making them feel. They validate and identify with their peers and hold the hope for them that will go a long way in their recovery journeys and regain the sense of well being that their mental illness or addiction took from them so that they can connect socially and participate in society.

PSW’s ‘mine’ for information by asking relevant questions. They never say, ‘What’s wrong?’ This sort of question is loaded and has a negative bias. Instead they ask, ‘What’s going on with you?’ or ‘What’s happening?’ This leaves scope for the peer to go as deep or shallow with their answer as they wish. Questions should always be open ended and PSW’s should always try and dig deeper to try and find out what is really going on beneath the surface. They should ask questions like, ‘How did that make you feel?’ and ‘Why do you think you felt that way?’ Always trying to get to the root of what is being communicated.

PSW’s do not use clinical language; they do not label people as their diagnoses, they see each person as an individual with their own unique story and ways of looking at the world. For many peers, they have come to view themselves as the ‘helpless patient’ with a pre-destined, mapped out fate. It is the PSWs aim to ‘flip’ this way of thinking and re-energise and self-empower the peer to find the resources within themselves to grow and develop. PSW’s aim to to try and get the peer to see themselves as the ‘hero’ of their own story. Someone who has been given challenges which they can overcome if they can learn to see these obstacles in a new light: as opportunities for growth.

One of the most powerful tools in a PSW’s toolbox is their own recovery story. It must be shared though in a way which is not triggering or traumatising. PSWs do this by not glamourising their drinking or drug taking and also by not telling any ‘war stories’ – stories about their past which are self-aggrandising or ego driven are not appropriate or beneficial. Nor is going into detail about traumatic experiences. PSWs express their stories through the shared common ground of emotion and feelings are careful to always be mindful and compassionate.

When shared in this way PSW’s stories become a powerful tool for establishing connection and inspiring hope.

21 comments

Wow Tom, I am in awe of you. Your comprehension and expression of what you’ve learned at the course is amazing. I would love to do a course like that. Please seek work in this field, and keep doing any courses that will help you achieve this. You will be such a gift and kind support to many if you can do this, and even better you will have found your true calling. This is why you were led there and why you fought your anxiety and walked through that door. Ask Lotta for more things like this that you can do. You got sober before me, but I am so very proud of you. It has been such a privilege to watch your life unfold and improve, and to see you becoming who you really are. You are So on the right track man. Still hoping to see you in Whangamata, I’ve saved you a couch……or at least a bit of floor in the lounge with Matt if there’s only one couch. Get my email off Lotta for address details. xo

What a rivetting read @behind-the-sofa. And what a sane and compassionate way to provide support and encouragement. I loved reading about this. And I know you will be a great addition to this workforce. I also loved how candid you were about your approach to the course and venue, and how you know how to coach yourself through the anxiety. Very cool. Thanks.

Thanks Sue……. this course was the first time I’ve ever told anyone in person about my anxiety (said it on this site quite a lot though!) and it felt fucking great!!! I’ve always been embarrassed and ashamed of it – hidden it away…. (another thing like alcohol that takes so much effort to hide and maintain) now I just want to be more open and honest about it…… I think it’s the only way I’ll get better.

PSW’s are not rescuers, helpers or advisers. The only person they are an expert on is themselves. If you rescue someone you are taking away from them their ability to be strong in that moment and to grow. Helping is driven by the ego and although it may make you feel better it will not help your peer in the long run. ——

Just read your guest blog a second time because it is just so good, and this part here had me take a good look at how I usually “help”. Lots to learn. It makes sense. If I ever do become a counselor in any professional capacity at a school or so, this will need to be framed and hung up by my desk.

Hi Mari….. yeah, that took me a while to digest as well….. your natural reaction is always to want to help and rescue someone and indeed I think you need to have that inclination at heart if you’re to be good at any kind of job to do with supporting people……. it’s not a bad trait, it’s just that you have to be mindful of the reasons you’re doing it for…… will it actually help the person in the long run or will it just give your ego a boost that you were able to ‘fix’ the problem short term…… there’s all sort of issues about creating dependency and all that kind of stuff too……. really not an easy one, I think it’s something which is learnt through trial and error and years of experience…… I guess one of the key points I learnt was that PSW’s are there to learn as much from their peers and their peers are from them: complete mutuality.

Hi Tom not only did you attend you really seemed to get it ! , with people like you moderating over the site , I see many many more success stories.
I can feel the empathy and thank you for your warmth.

I just want to name check Stacey and Sara….. (hopefully they won’t mind) they were the course facilitators….. emotional intelligence off the charts….. really cool people….. they talk the talk and walk the walk! : )

- hi behind the sofa – How I would love to develop my emotional intelligence ! all my life I’ve bee ruled by almost overwhelming emotions. Glad I said that, thanks for providing the prompt for me to do so

Thanks heaps for sharing this you lovely soul! How lucky we are to get to have you here.
Well done!!
Could especially relate to the anxiety part in the beginning. Happens to me every single time when I do new things or meet new people. I probably would have driven right home and hidden inside Netflix for days.

I’m starting to realise how wide-spread anxiety is now – I used to think it was just me! Knowing that it’s so common helps me to not feel so bad about it……… I think there’s still a lot of stigma around it though and people are scared to talk about it because they think they’ll appear weak……. I mean this course I did was the first time I’ve been around people who I felt comfortable talking about it with……. I certainly wouldn’t have ever divulged it in the work place nor even to my family….. kind of seems like it’s a thing that people could either use against you or they’d feel sorry for you…… neither seem appealing.

Mate, I am so proud of you for sticking it out and doing that training. I could feel your anxiety describing your arrival at the building (I would’ve felt the same). Awesome of your to follow through with it and share it with us!

Thanks for sharing. In helping others, we help ourselves. The fact that the re-telling of traumatic and dramatic drug/alcohol induced experiences can be triggering is something l can use when taking care of myself. You will be of great comfort and support to many people.

Thanks KerrieBear….. yeah, I really hope I can find a job which involves being of service to other people….. I’ve lived most of my life for myself and it really doesn’t work…… time to try a new approach!

If you feel like you need more immediate help call the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797 (24 hrs) or LifeLine 0800 543 354 (24 hrs) to speak directly to someone who can assist.
This site is not moderated 24 hours a day. Any postings that raise concerns about a persons’ safety will be taken seriously and you will be encouraged to seek support. In the event an imminent risk to safety is determined, this may result in disclosure of this information to authorities in order to get assistance.